They were there for the second annual Meridian Energy rugby fun day, played in a carnival atmosphere with 36 Junior Advisory Board teams playing on six grounds over three venues.
It served as an appetiser for the Citizens Shield clash between Kurow and Valley that afternoon.
One of the attractions was former All Black fullback Christian Cullen, who was the special guest brought to Kurow through rugby camaraderie.
In 2003, he joined the Munster club in Ireland, when Mike Mullins was playing there.
Mullins is now North Otago's coach in the Heartland series.
"I met up with Mike about four months ago during a coaching seminar in Palmerston North and he asked me to come down [for the fun day]," Cullen said.
He "kind of" knew what to expect, but was surprised by the number of people at Kurow for Saturday's event.
"It's great to see all these kids and supporters," he said.
Many of the younger children playing on Saturday had probably never seen Cullen, who scored 48 tries in 58 tests, play.
Between 1996 and 2001, Cullen was the most dangerous broken-field runner the game had seen and he had an unparalleled ability to score tries from long distance.
The best was a 70m effort against Australia at Carisbrook in 1997.
But even the 5-year-olds recognised who he was at Kurow, and mobbed him for autographs on paper, skins, shoes and rugby boots.
It was a huge day for the Kurow Rugby Club, starting at 11am with 17 junior matches on grounds at the Waitaki Valley School, Kurow racecourse and Kurow Rugby Club.
The club's ground had a huge marquee, tents and a stage.
There was a free barbecue for players and officials, and entertainment included face painting, a bouncy castle and a band.
The fun day will feature on the Small Blacks and Grassroots Rugby television programmes.
